2-Deoxy-L-ribose may be prepared by reacting a compound represented by formula (1) with an organometallic compound represented by formula (2) to give a compound represented by formula (3), which is then subjected to deprotection of a hydroxyl group and production of aldehyde by acid hydrolysis: 1 wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydroxyl-protecting group or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 in combination form a hydroxyl-protecting group, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or a silyl group or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 in combination form an alkylene group.